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mmmmmmr -y 16-The Canadian Champion, Friday, August 7, 2001 MuCANADA lINC fI.~ OP'EN ,,TURDAI EASONAL[Y 5RMENS MUST SE PACEfl Ity 5 85555 ,IMini' shows strongly at Predators' rookie camp Former Merchants star nets hat-trick in week-ending clash By STEVE LeBLANO The Champion No hockey player can actually score at wiII, but Miltonian Darren (Mini) Haydar continues to make a strong case to the contrary. The 2 1 -year-old right winger has made a career out of coming through in big game situations - and did juat that at last month's Nashville Predators rookie camp. During the week-ending contest of July 13, Mini led freshman scoring with a hat-trick for is white team. The fîve-foot-nine, 163-pound forward's side bast 7-6 - but that paled in comparison to the sensational showing delivered by Nashville's 1999 ninth- round draft pick. "I thought 1 did pretty well," said the Merchants' al-time goals and points leader. "Hopefully this was another step forward (to playing in the NHL)." Exhibiting is remarkable versatility to Predator personnel, Haydar scored once on a doorstep rebound, once aliter cutting to the goal from the corner and once by converting a two-on-one rush. Despite being one of the smallest prospects at camp, Nashville iant over- ly concemed about the local star's lack of size. Explained Mini, "They're more inter- ested in me getting quicker - not 50 much skating wise but with the puck." Thats something he's been working on p over the past three seasons with the New Hampshire Wildcats - whom he helped to back-to-back NCAA toumnament appearances in 1999 and 2000. Will wear 'C' this season Darren Haydar Now Mini is set to don the captain's "C' for is upcoming senior year. It's an honour he's looking for- ward to, but at the samne ime not taking lightly. "Adam (Bertoli) and I split the role when we were kids, but I don't think I've ever been a fuli-time captain," he said. 've got some big shoes to fMI here." Looking ahead to 2002-03 and beyond, Mini remains fairly con- fident that he' Il someday dress for NHL competition - using his big-game track record as an ongoing source of inspiration. "That's what you've got to do - produce when you get your p3fNDTICAL *Eye Exams Arranged (next door) *a on Premises *Certified Contact Lens Fitter 905-876-0556 While Mini prepares to close out his NCAA stretch. big brother Jef Haydar is set to begin a new chapter to his own hockey career. Captain of the 1997/98 Merchants - who made it to the national Royal Bank Cup in Nainamfl, B.C.- he recently inked a deal with the East Coast Hockey League's Trenton Titans, who in just their second season made it ail the way to the league championship finals. A big reason for that was the much-improved play of fellow Miltonian Scott Bertoli, whose scoring touch and defensive prowess last season eamed him an invitation to the Washington Capitals' rookie camp this summer. If successful at cracking the NI-L squad, he would be eunîted with his old Princeton lînemate Jef Halpern. However, he's more likely to find a home at either the IHL and AHL - which would still represent a major step up the profès- sional hockey ladder. Said Mini, "Scott really did great last year. It wouldn't surprise me one big if he made it to the A(HL) or I(HL)." Mini will be among about two dozen Merchant graduates who'l be toiling in the NCAA this coming season. Among the more noteable names on that list are Ron Baker, Kevin O'Flaherty, Ryan Camfgan, Andy Rozak and outgoing cap- tain John Nadalin. Anniversary .Sale 1 1 1 -- TUFSDAY AUGUST 77, 2001 TI 111-1 CANADIAN CI IAMPION "I 1 (Cordage Square) Martin & Main Streets